KASR (QASR) EL-GAWHARA (JEWEL PALACE)

Here, Muhammad Ali waited while his forces trapped, and put an end to the Mamluk beys by massacring most of their leaders as they were leaving the Citadel. The Kasr (Qasr) El-Gawhara or Jewel Palace, originally Mohammad Ali Pasha's headquarters, is now open to the public as an example of the best early 19th century Ottoman decoration and architecture. Its collection includes 19th century royal portraits, costumes and furnishings. Constructed in 1814, it includes a small garden leading to a mosque with one of the more interesting eccentricities being the Watch Hall where the shape of a watch has been used to decorate the walls.

Pictures of KASR (QASR) EL-GAWHARA :

Built by Mohamed Aly in 1814 essentially as a private residence, this palace also housed his guests and various administrative offices. The palace, which is currently being renovated (is now open to the public as an example of the best early 19th century Ottoman decoration and architecture), . Its collection  a beautiful example of Ottoman architecture with strong European influences.

KASR (QASR) EL-GAWHARA (JEWEL PALACE) - overview :

The palace was named for Gawhara Hanem, the last of Mohamed Aly’s wives. The name has often led people to think that it housed jewels. An attempted theft in 1972 resulted in a fire that practically gutted the building.

Right outside the entrance is possibly Cairo’s most spectacular view of Islamic Cairo 

It includes a small garden leading to a mosque with one of the more interesting eccentricities being the Watch Hall where the shape of a watch has been used to decorate the walls.

The entrance holds an enormous gilt and marble mirror – when going in to see the Mohamed Aly, you were best off making sure that you looked your best.

Upstairs you can take in the enormous gilt throne which was a present from the King of Italy. Family portraits adorn the walls, chandeliers hang from the ceilings and marble staircases are winged by flying angels.

The Royal bedroom :

The Royal bedroom indicates that the Aly must have been a little on the short side. It didn’t hold him back, apparently. He established sole control in Egypt by inviting 470 Mamelukes to a feast and then promptly having them shot on their way out. Legend has it that only one of them escaped, by leaping his horse over the rampart and jumping off right before it crashed. Apparently, he escaped with a broken ankle  &  The horse wasn’t so lucky.

THE AGRICULTURE MUSEUM IN CAIRO

THE AGRICULTURE MUSEUM IN CAIRO

Agriculture has played a major role in the Egyptian history and always affected the lives of Egyptians from the days of the pharaohs up to our modern time. There is much truth in the famous saying: “Egypt is the gift of the Nile”. This is because the Nile is the major source of water used in agriculture in Egypt. Therefore, because of agriculture's ancient and continuing importance to Egyptian life, during the 1930s the Egyptian government decided to build an agriculture museum. The museum was built during the period of King Farouk to mainly serve two purposes. These are to provide information agricultural and economic knowledge and to record the history of agriculture over a long period that extends form prehistoric to modern times.

Obelisk found inside the museum :

The museum contains ten halls or what might be considered subsidiary museums. Some of them are open for visitors, while others are closed for maintenance, and still others are under construction or not ready to be opened yet. One of the most interesting halls is the New Museum of Ancient Egyptian Agriculture and the Museum of Acquisitions. Unfortunately these halls are not opened yet.

THE AGRICULTURE MUSEUM IN CAIRO Overview :

The ground floor is mainly associated with the farmer’s life. Inside this hall, one will feel almost like one is inside the Egyptian country side. Statues are all over this hall displaying most of the Egyptian farm jobs like pottery and glass making. The farm market is also represented with all its aspects. In addition, there is information on prevalent diseases in the Egyptian countryside and means of dealing with them. Various land topics, such as formation, projects of land reclamation and improving and protecting it against deterioration. Various methods of irrigation are also displayed.

The upper floor includes displays of animal wealth, animal and poultry products and means of manufacturing them. Collections of embalmed local and migratory wild birds in their natural habitats are displayed as well as a collection of insects and rare luminous bugs (terflies). Another new museum, which may in fact not yet be completely opened, focuses on cotton. It traces the history of Egyptian cotton since its introduction by Mohammed Ali. The museum includes rare manuscripts and decrees concerning cotton, rare, embroidered cotton textiles from ancient times, illustrations, information and samples of old extinct types of cotton as well as the most recent species.

Also included are exhibits displaying models that illustrate growing methods and the various processes of spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing. It should be noted that cotton has played a most important part in modern Egyptian history. The museum has a wonderful garden area all about the complex itself, which seems to be a relaxing place to stroll about. And while the museum is indeed interesting, it is unfortunate that some of the most important halls are currently not open. Doubtlessly, when the other halls are open, and especially the New Museum of Ancient Egyptian Agriculture, the museum should become a much more visited site by Tourists.

The New Museum of Ancient Egyptian Agriculture, soon to be opened, will trace the history of Egyptian agriculture from prehistoric times to the end of the pharaonic period. Its design will. It will use the latest scientific museum methods for lighting the and exhibiting the various displays. It includes laboratories for repairing, storing and maintenance as well as the latest system of recording, documenting and saving information using modern computer technology. This new part of the overall Agriculture Museum will have two stories.

The first story will be devoted to implements for hunting and agriculture field and orchard crops, including some that date back seven thousand years. The second floor will have displays of animal wealth including exhibits of fossilized animals and birds that ancient Egyptians once caught, including ducks, geese, cranes and the ibis. There will also be a display of Apis bulls.

Various Types of Wheat:

The New Museum of Ancient Egyptian Agriculture, soon to be opened, will trace the history of Egyptian agriculture from prehistoric times to the end of the pharaonic period. Its design will. It will use the latest scientific museum methods for lighting the and exhibiting the various displays. It includes laboratories for repairing, storing and maintenance as well as the latest system of recording, documenting and saving information using modern computer technology. This new part of the overall Agriculture Museum will have two stories.

Ancient Egyptian Agriculture Museum, Cairo

The palace of Princess Fatma, daughter of Khedive Ismail, was chosen to house the museum in November, 1930. The Ministry of Agriculture made a lot of changes in the palace to make it suitable as a museum. The museum was first opened on 16 January 1938 and was the first museum of this kind in the world.